Tribe plays ball with Indians

Spokane Tribe, baseball team cement relationsThe bond between the Spokane Tribe and the Spokane Indians professional baseball team was strengthened even more at a recent dedication held at Avista Stadium in Spokane. A display was unveiled prior to the second game of the season highlighting the long history of the tribe in the region and its more recent affiliation with the baseball team.

Team President Andrew Billig took the microphone on a platform before a crowd of tribal members and baseball fans to welcome everyone to the dedication.

"One of the improvements and additions to the stadium we're most proud of is the Spokane Tribe of Indians museum exhibit that you see behind me," he said. "The team, which is 104 years old, was named after the Spokane Tribe of Indians. It's only fitting that we have a great partnership with the Spokane Tribe. We're very proud of that partnership. It's something that I personally have gotten a lot of enjoyment and education from. It's important for our community and hopefully a positive for the tribe as well."

Behind the speaker's platform and mounted on a number of wooden panels were many photos, quotations and life-sized photo cutouts documenting and explaining the history of the Spokane Tribe. The titles of the various panels were written in Salish, the language of the Spokane Tribe, as well as English. The final panel illustrated the relationship with the baseball team and especially the new team uniforms.